About Us
Studio B Dance Co. was started in 2006 by Brandi Doyle, the owner and artistic director. It was her goal to create an environment both nurturing and creatively and technically challenging. It was, and will always be, a priority to encourage and challenge students of all ages and levels.
The dream began small, out of rented church Pre K room a couple of nights a week, and has grown steadily over the years from a 1 room studio, to a 3 room studio, to our current location in the Village of Liverpool. Our current location gives our students ample space to learn and grow, with 6,200 square feet of space including 4 dance rooms, boys and girls lockers rooms, an eating area, and in studio live streaming of classes so parents can watch from the lobby.
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We work to keep our families informed with monthly newsletters, a Google Calendar to keep track of events and payment due dates, as well as very active Instagram and Facebook accounts.
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Our Staff
Brandi Rao, Owner/Instructor/Choreographer
Miss Brandi began dancing at the age of 3 and hasn't stopped since! Throughout her childhood, she was a successful competitive dancer, winning both regional and national awards. She has had the pleasure of performing in productions Chicago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease...and more! She was lucky to be accepted into the Peridance Intensive in NYC, and has continued her dance education by taking classes at the Dance Teacher Summit and gaining certifications in MUV Method. Since opening the doors of Studio B Dance Co. in 2006, her students have won countless technical and high-score awards under her direction. They are 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024 Starpower and Imagine National Champions, a 2018-2024 ADCC Studio of Excellence, and a part of the Circle of Excellence in the Star Dance Alliance. Her studio has received 5 Industry Dance Award nominations, and they are the 2021 and 2024 World Champions. Her choreography has been recognized both regionally and nationally, and she has choreographed productions of Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Grease. In addition, she has adjudicated for Bravo National Dance Competition and Imagine Dance Challenge, which allows her to travel the country and help guide dancers in their training through the dance competition circuit. She has had the pleasure to teach at conventions and set choreography on a National level. Her goal is to continue challenging her dancers both technically and artistically for many years to come!
Amanda Kurey, Artistic Director, Instructor/Choreographer
Amanda grew up in Central New York, where she began dancing at the age of 3. Amanda was a top-class dancer, winning countless awards at both regional and national competitions. Upon graduating, she attended Fredonia State University, where she studied both dance and theatre. In 2012, she was awarded the prestigious Carol Prevett Scholarship for dance. During her time there, she was voted Vice President of the student-run dance company, Orchesis. Amanda both choreographed and performed in many numbers throughout her association with the company. She performed with the Fredonia State Dance Ensemble, Fredonia State Dance Team, and Fredonia's Performing Arts Company. She also had the privilege of working with numerous professional choreographers such as John Lehrer, Tokyo, and Chris Todar. After graduating, Amanda started teaching and choreographing professionally in addition to working for a regional theater and Syracuse University. Since then, Amanda has won numerous top choreography and top technique awards, including “Choreographer of the Year” in 2019, 2021, and 2023 for Imagine Dance Challenge and “Excellence in Choreography” at the Star Dance Alliance’s Circle of Excellence awards. In 2024, Amanda was honored with choreographing the opening number for Imagine Dance Challenge’s Nationals. Not only does she teach full time at Studio B Dance Company in Liverpool, NY, but she also choreographs for local high school musicals, community theater, as well as touring with several dance competitions as an adjudicator!
Danya Eades, Ballet Instructor/Choreographer
Danya's early training began at the Lorraine Havercroft School of Dance and the Center of Ballet and Dance Arts in Syracuse, NY. She continued her Classical training at distinguished institutions such as Briansky Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Ballet West. Danya trained with the masters of the Dance world, including the esteemed Madame Darvash, Martha Graham, and as a Full Merritt Scholarship student at Alvin Ailey’s American Dance Center. Later talent led her to be honored to study under Ballet masters Gene Hammett, founder of Tidewater Ballet, and the legendary ballet master Truman Finey. Danya has danced professionally in NY, Texas, Connecticut, and North Carolina, as well as in TV and Film. Including Syracuse Opera Company, Incarnate Word Ballet, Manchester Musical Players, the television series Young Indiana Jones Chronicles a Lucas Film; an Ambling Television production, and the Original, live action film Super Mario Brothers starring Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo and Directed by Annabel Jenkins and Rocky Norton, and Choreographed by Barry Lather. After dancing professionally, Danya graduated from Hartford Ballet's Teacher Training Program, later continued her teacher training at the National Ballet School of Canada. Danya is a well-sought-after ballet teacher, coach, mentor, and choreographer. She was an adjunct Ballet Instructor at Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts, has been instrumental in developing and implementing many dance programs throughout eastern NC, and Central New York, including Wilmington Dance Academy, Foot Works Dance Arts, Syracuse School of Dance and The Ballet and Dance Center. Danya has been teaching dance, choreographing, and guest teaching for studios in NY and NC for over 25 years. Danya has collaborated extensively with arts organizations throughout her career, including serving as a choreographer for Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company and as the Children’s Rehearsal Mistress for North Carolina Dance Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker, presented in partnership with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (SSO). Her work with the SSO led to multiple choreographic commissions for their Educational and Family Series, where she created original choreography for productions such as Colors in Motion, The Polar Express, All Star Musicians, and Holiday Pops. Danya has also developed several collaborative works with
Choreographer Karen Mentor, most notably the SSO’s Halloween Spookapalooza, a popular seasonal performance. Danya choreographed for the independent film Adult World, directed by Scott Coffrey and starring Emma Roberts and Evan Peters. She continued on to later choreograph for Syracuse’s Symphoria! Including their Family Series and highly popular Holiday Magic. More recently, Danya served as the Building Lead for Red House Arts Center at Van Duyn
Elementary School, where she was instrumental in the development and implementation of arts-integrated curriculum. In the role, she provided hands-on support and coaching to teaching artists, fostering creative, engaging classroom environments. Danya worked in closepartnership with both school leadership and Redhouse administration to shape and define program content. She also led the direction and management of all student performances, bringing their work to life through dynamic and inspiring showcases. Drawing from a foundation built under some of the most respected ballet masters and
institutions, Danya brings a deeply technical yet artistically nuanced approach to her teaching. She is dedicated to nurturing each dancer’s potential by combining rigorous classical technique with expressive musicality, fostering both discipline and creativity in her students.
Margo Pasternak, Instructor/Choreographer
Margo grew up in Syracuse, NY, and has danced since age 5. She trained at Tawn Marie’s Dance Centre from age 8 until she graduated from Liverpool High School at age 18. Her studies included jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet, pointe, hip-hop, modern, and acro. She also competed in many dance competitions in her youth. Margo started student teaching dance at age 12. She choreographed and taught her classes during her senior year of high school. Margo attended the University of Buffalo from 2003 to 2007 and performed on the dance team all 4 years. She had the honor of being the Captain of the dance team her senior year. She taught ballet, jazz, tap, and lyrical at local Buffalo dance studios throughout her college career. She studied theater in college and graduated with a BA in Communications. She earned her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2024 and now works at Southside Academy Charter School as a kindergarten teacher. She moved back to Syracuse, NY, in 2014 to be closer to her family and has been busy raising her beautiful daughter, Sally, since then. She began teaching at Studio B Dance Company in 2021. During her time at Studio B, Margo has choreographed numerous dances that have won overall high score awards, including most recently the Rising Star award for her lyrical dance "The Sun is Rising" at Beyond the Stars. Margo is thrilled to be a part of Studio B Dance Company and to continue sharing her love and passion for dance with all her students.
Meaghan Povlock, Instructor/Choreographer
Miss Meaghan is so excited to be back at Studio B, the place where she grew up dancing and competing for so many years. Now at 24 years old, she's come full circle and this time, as a teacher. She graduated from Liverpool High School and went on to earn her degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Dance from SUNY Oneonta. While at Oneonta, she stayed super involved in the dance community as a member of the college dance team and the student-run dance club, Terpsichorean Dance Company. When she's not teaching in the studio, Miss Meaghan is also a full-time elementary school teacher in the Liverpool district. She loves working with kids both in the classroom and in the studio, and brings lots of energy and encouragement wherever she goes.
Julia Dowling, Instructor/Choreographer
Miss Julia is a proud Studio B alumnus from the graduating class of 2019. After growing up in the studio and on the stage, she knew she would never be able to give dance up. Throughout her dance career, she worked with various choreographers and companies through conventions, workshops, and master classes. During all 4 years of undergraduate school, while studying to become an Occupational Therapist, Julia was a member of the Nazareth Dance Team and also graduated with a dance minor. Miss Julia’s love for dance still runs so deep, and she is extremely lucky to share her passion with the dancers at Studio B as well as give back to Miss Brandi and the place that has always been a second home to her. On top of working at the studio, Miss Julia is also an Occupational Therapist currently working at St. Camillus in the short-term rehab department.
Mackenzie Allen, Instructor/Choreographer
Miss Mackenzie has been dancing since I was 4 years old.
She began competing at age 6 and instantly fell in love with dance, not just as an art form, but as a creative outlet, a way to express my emotions, and a source of confidence. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of dancing with the USTD Dance Team (2012) and the Chehon Demo Dance Team (2013).
I became part of the Studio B family in 2016 and graduated in 2018 during Season 12. I returned as a teacher for Seasons 13 and 14, and in 2020, I danced with the Le Moyne Student Dance Company.
After stepping away for a little while to become a mom, I’m so grateful to be back in the studio—this time helping young dancers discover their passion and joy for movement, just like I did.
I’m also currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Health and Wellness Management at SUNY Oswego. Dance has shaped so much of who I am, and I can’t wait to share that love, energy, and experience with every dancer I meet.
Kaitlin Law, Instructor/Choreographer
Kaitlin Law was born and raised on Long Island before starting her career in Central New York.
She started competing from a young age for her home studio and school dance teams, and later started performing for her college dance company at Rochester Institute of Technology(RIT). She graduated in May of 2020 from RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf with a BS in American Sign Language Interpretation.
During her time at RIT, she choreographed and performed for their dance company. She started her choreography journey in high school, and continued her passion for it in college while she choreographed for her schools performing team.
Since joining Studio B in 2020, she has choreographed various styles such as tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary for both competitive and recreational students. It’s very important to her that dance is something accessible to all, so she values teaching technique to all ages, skill sets, and abilities. Since she is also an ASL interpreter, she is able to teach classes with D/deaf and hard of hearing students in a way that’s accessible to all. She is so happy to continue on with her 6th year teaching and choreographing for the next generation of dancers!